Just heard friend of friend's story of a grizzly bear attack. Apparently a .357 was enough to save their life.

I've heard a report of a griz killed with a .22 lr, bear had it's mouth open and the .22 went in through the roof of the bear's mouth an into the brain. I wouldn't even think to tell anyone to carry a .22 because a grizzly was killed with one.

I wouldn't carry a pistol after a bear as a first choice but I do carry a Ruger Super Redhawk .454 with a barrel cut to 5" loaded with Cor-Bon 300 gr. flat nose when I don't have a rifle with me.

I carry a Glock 23 and trust it for any situation except for the bears you mentioned. When Bears are a possibility I carry my S&W 329 PD 44 Mag. Good bullets in the 40 cal will handle almost anything else I can think of. Living in Alaska I've seen plenty of situations where someone carried their favorite 45 ACP into bear country and have it no work out so well. The last one I remember was an XD in 45 ACP. The bear was turned after 13 or 14 rounds and then went miles before dying. Good bullets in a 44 mag or 454 that you will carry all day is just the ticket. The 460 and 500 S&W are nice for handgun hunting but too heavy and produce too much recoil for valid self defense.

Depends on how much weight & bulk I feel like carrying, & where I'll be hunting. Usually, the G27 fits the bill, sometimes I'll step up to the G20 (10mm) for some more power. If I really don't mind hauling or just want the power, I'll carry a Ruger .44 mag.

ANY highpowered ruger revolver. Those things are built to take punishment and kill. That is all I need out of a side arm.

__________________"...I shoot big cartridges, not because I am ego bound, not because they are needed to kill big game when well placed shots are made, but when an error is made, they will get you out of trouble more often then a lesser round."